To Kill the Sultan (Book)

Ahmet Ümit’s Sultanı Öldürmek blends historical and crime genres, offering an alternative perspective on the death of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, one of the pivotal figures in Ottoman history, while centering on a murder committed in contemporary Türkiye. Roman constructs the investigation, which begins with the killing of a history professor, by intertwining it with the characters’ personal histories. The reader follows both a modern-day murder investigation and gains diverse perspectives on Ottoman history.

• Müştak Serhazin: The protagonist, a history professor specializing in Ottoman history, who has achieved academic success but carries a complex past.
• Nüzhet Hanım: Müştak Serhazin’s lover and also a history professor.
• Nevzat Commissioner: A seasoned, inquisitive, and justice-driven police officer who appears in many of Ahmet Ümit’s works.
• Nazan: One of the key female characters in Müştak Serhazin’s life, playing a critical role both in his personal life and in the novel’s plot.
• Fatih Sultan Mehmet: One of the central historical figures in the novel’s historical dimension, whose death is the subject of various theories and intrigues explored throughout the narrative.

The story opens with the murder of historian Professor Nüzhet, which casts suspicion on Müştak Serhazin. As Nevzat Commissioner investigates the crime, he uncovers links to Müştak’s past, Ottoman history, and multiple theories surrounding the death of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. The novel unfolds across two distinct timelines (the present and the Ottoman era), weaving together the modern murder with the historical events tied to Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s demise.

• History and Reality: The novel interrogates how history is constructed and how truth is shaped.
• Crime and Guilt: At the core of the crime narrative is a murder case that reveals how the past resonates in the present.
• Power and Struggle for Authority: The political intrigues within the Ottoman court and the rivalries among historical figures carry implicit references to contemporary dynamics.
• Love and Passion: The personal lives of the main characters intertwine with academic competition and inner conflicts.